Page 100 of Sherry and Sunflowers
"I have. Thank you so much. I've enjoyed every minute of it. I really love these guys."
"They're good people. And they love you too."
She pressed a little closer against him, and his arms tightened around her.
"I love them. They’re great people. But, Reaves—I really want you to know. I loveyou, with all my heart."
His hand came up to cup her cheek. "You already know you have all of mine."
They turned in slow, shuffling circles to the music, and the way she closed her eyes and rested her head against his shoulder made him want the music to just keep playing.
"I don't want tonight to end," he said.
She opened her eyes and peeked up at him, and the smile that played on her lips sent something warm rushing through him.
"I'd love to keep dancing with you all night. But only because we can't go home, and…" She bit down on her bottom lip. "I shouldn't say that, should I?"
"I'm glad you did. I'd hate for you to think I don't want you. But with everything else that's been going on, I didn't want to…"
She reached up and pressed a finger to his lips. "I know. I understand. You've been patient." She smiled. "I'm running out of patience."
He was tempted to march her straight out of there, call a cab, and head back to his apartment. But that wouldn't be right.
"Soon," he said, and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
She nodded. "I've been thinking the same thing myself. I know your dad said you can't stay over—but that's only unless and until I invite you." She lifted her head and looked into his eyes. "I'm not going to invite you tonight. That wouldn't seem right." She smiled. "But like you said. Soon."
~ ~ ~
Alara closed her eyes and gave herself up to the music, and to the feel of Reaves's hard body pressed against her own. She was a little shocked she'd been so frank with him—but then, there was no reason not to be. Yesterday, he'd talked about them becoming a family. If they were all together and Homer were his dog, then he'd be Zia's dog too. That's what he'd said.
She held him tighter as a shiver ran down her spine. A family. She hadn't thought she'd ever have one of those. Of course, Zia was everything—but Alara couldn't be a whole family for her, not by herself.
They stayed out there for a few songs, until the music finally shifted into something faster, too upbeat to just shuffle to. She eased back and looked up at him.
"Want to go and sit with the others?"
He smiled. "Most of them have gone."
"Oh." She looked around, surprised.
"We were dancing for a while," he explained.
She gave him a sheepish smile. "Sorry."
"Don't be. There's nowhere else I'd rather be." He held her gaze. "Well. Only one place. But I can be patient until we go there."
They made their way off the dance floor and back toward the table where everyone had been sitting. Ollie and Callie were still there, and Willow and Slade, and Jacob and Becca. But the others had gone.
"You guys want another drink?" Ollie asked.
"I'm good, thanks," said Alara.
"Yeah, not for me," said Reaves.
Slade slung his arm around Willow's shoulders. "We're headed home. Right?"
"We sure are."
